Charlie Adam scores on full Liverpool debut

16 July 2011 07:41

Charlie Adam gave Liverpool the first return on their ?6.7million investment with a goal on his fulldebut - it's a shame boss Dalglish was nowhere to be seen!

Besides coolly putting away a penalty, it was the subtle and quick way he moved the ball forward that will go a long way to allaying any fears that he might find the step from Bloomfield Road to Anfield a long one.

Having enjoyed a magnificent first season in the top flight with Blackpool, with 15 goals, a PFA Player of the Year nomination and, ultimately, a move to Liverpool, many will be wondering whether he can repeat the trick.

A bigger stage brings greater expectations and Adam will find his performances scrutinised like neverbefore when the action starts for real.

But the way in which he played in this entertaining win over Malaysia gives the impression that he will meet the challenge head on.

Adam opened the scoring with a confident twice-taken penalty after Andy Carroll was bundled over.'It's a proud moment to join this club and to score a goal feels great,'said Adam, who played the first 45 minutes before wholesale changes were made.

'I'm delighted. But it's not just about scoring the goals. I've got to work hard and get my fitness levels up.

'Hopefully then the goals will come. Andy let me take the penalty and it was great for him to give me the ball.

'I was just glad to put it away and hopefully as I get fitter, I can get more goals and enjoy my time at this club.'

With manager Kenny Dalglish having returned to England to complete the ?20m signing of Stewart Downing, it was left to his assistant Steve Clarke to oversee a game that, in addition to Adam's display, produced a number of talking points.

Perhaps the biggest revolved around David N'Gog and Alberto Aquilani, two players who looked to have no future on Merseyside but whose efforts received a significant vote of support on Twitter from Liverpool's principle owner John W Henry.

Well-backed: Liverpool fans were out in force for their friendly against a Malaysia XI

N'Gog, a target for Sunderland and Aston Villa this summer, scored twice in the space of a minute after half-time, while Aquilani regarded as an expensive misfit in the two years he has been aLiverpool player showed great class.

'One missing link last year Aquilani,' Henry posted. 'Put the ball near N'Gog and the goal and it's going in. Too much talk of them somewhere else.'

Although a goal by Malaysia captain Shafiq Rahim and a double from Mohd Safee Mohd Sali either side of halftime delighted the 84,000 crowd, Liverpool were always in control. Maxi Rodriguez (two) and Dirk Kuyt scored the other goals to follow up Wednesday's 4-3 win over Guangdong Sunray Cave in China.